Shaper mechanism for winding yarn on weft bobbins in spinning mules



May 12;1931.

F. C. FIRTH ET AL SHAPER MECHANISM FOR WINDING YARN ON WEFT BOBBINS IN SPINNING MULES Filed Aug. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 12, 1931. F. c. FIRTH ET AL 1,304,366

I SHAPER MECHANISM FOR WINDING YARN ON WEFT BOBBINS IN SPINNING MULES- Filed Aug. 19, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1931 tin-re rates FRED CUNNINGI-IAIEFIRTHQOF UPPER SBATLEY, STANLEY JESSOP SENIOR, OF BAILEY, ANDCLIFFOBCD THOENES TATTER SFIELD, (2F D-E'WSBUBY, ENGLAND SHAI'ER IYIIElGIiIANISMv FOR WINDING YARN 0N WEEK ROBBINS IN SPINNING MULES Application filed August 19, 1929, Serial No. 386,883, and in Great Britain December 7,' 1928.

The invention relates to bunch building mechanism of self-acting mules for splnning and winding yarn on weft bobbins for subsequent use in plain power looms, of the kind whereby the shape or length of the chase may be varied or adjusted with the assistance of a supplementary copping rail and means for raising and lowering the same for 7 this purpose. 1

Hitherto, in the spinning and winding of bobbins for automatic weft-replenishing looms, bunch building mechanisms have been used comprising asupplementary shaper shoe instead of the above mentioned supplementary copping rail, with'means for raising and lowering the shoe relative to the normal copping rail; Provision is also made therein whereby exactly the same amount of yarn will be contained in the bunch on each bobbin; also, for Varying the said amount, and for rendering the means adapted to build the said bunch inoperative and the mule to operate in the usual manner. The "use of a supplementary copping rail has also been used in connection with bunching motions on self acting spinning mules.

The object of the present invention isan improved bunching motion applicable to selfacting mules, comprising an improved-construction of the supplementary or auxiliary copping rail; the means for forming. the bunch ofa predetermined amount of yarn; 'the.meansfor manually resetting and supporting the supplementary copping rail to build a bunch-of' yarn at the base of the bobbin andthe means for immediately lower ing the supplementary rail on completion of the desired bunch, whereby a demarkation is made between the said bunch and the normal winding of the yarn on the'bobbin, in order that when the bobbin approaches a certain stage of exhaustion in a plain power loom the said bunch and the demarkation are exposed to view, indicating to the weaver thenumber of drafts of yarn or picks of weft still remaining on the bobbin. Should the short traverse, chase or bunch of yarn represent, for example, three picks of weft, the loom may be stopped for weft replenishing immediately following the next two picks, which leaves one pick or draft of weft or yarn on the bobbin to become waste. e

Under existing conditions the weaver may have to stop the loom several times in ascertainingor obtaining the desired stage of exhaustion of the weft, and frequently when the shuttle is changed, anything from three or more picks of weft may still remain on the bobbin, all ofwhich amount to so much Waste .7 and is mainly due to the normal or much longer traverse or chase and the want of any indication as to the state of exhaustion, found throughout the customary weft bobbins, in this type of loom.

According to the invention an additional or auxiliary shaper rail is preferably provided placed in any suitable or desired position but preferably arranged parallel and in close proximity to the existing or main shap- 7 er rail, with one end pivoting thereon. The auxiliary rail is adapted to be operated sep arately or independently of the main rail and on commencing to wind the yarn on to each set of bobbins, is set at an angle thereto;

the pulley or runner on the corresponding faller leg mechanlsm in engaging the'said auxlliary rall when 1n.1ts raised positlon,

is raised out of engagement with the main rail, and the predetermined an le thereof vproduces the commencement of winding operations a relative short-traverse, taper or chase in the yarn when it begins to be wound on to the bobbin or cop; The predetermined amount ofyarn wound thereon while the main railsetting up the normal traverse or chase which continues during the rest of the winding of the set of bobbins, producing demarkation between the long and the short chase.

Means are providedduring the setting of the shaper shoes, for raising the auxiliary TOD,

porting said rails the s for lowering the rail to up traverse or cha in the winding of and for releasing cer in n echa I ling the short trav' or cnase in read for winding the next set of bobbins.

The invention vill now be described with referenceito the accompanying drawings, in which:-

1 is a side elevation of a frag part of a woollen. spinning mule, sho' iormal ier rail wi h an add. 0; l or iper rail pivoted there 1 the latshown in bro n lines in its normal 1 pos .s, and means for operating said auxili ii and for holding the same n the raised position.

F 2 a side eleva ion of the form of knockii oil echanis. 1 preferably employed for con-trolling the auxiliary shaper rail, showing in broken lines the relative arth e the

:rangement of the shaper shoes, connecting rod, and main and auxiliary shaper rails of a woolen spinning mule.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Figs. 1 and 2 sembled.

F 4 is atransverse section througlrthe line 4 4 of Fig. 2 of a part of the knockingolfmecnanism shown at 2.

5 is a similar View through the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a View of a fragmentary part of the knocking-off mechanism showing in full lines the position of the pivoted lever and catch at the termination of each traverse of the carriage, and means for preventing their return on the completion of a bunch or short chase of yarn on the base of the bobbin or cop, and immediately Jrior to-the lowering of the auxiliary rail for normal spinning.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a fragmentary part of a bobbin showing the short chase fortin the yarn at the commencementor 1nd. 7 operations and the subsequent or normal chase adhered to tl'iroughout the rest of the spinning and winding of the yarn thereon. Referring to Fig. 1 :-1 is the main shaper or copping rail provided at each end with trunnions 2, adapted to engage inclined faces on the shaper shoes 3 and to be operated by the usual means in the well known manner. A preferably movable additional or auxiliary shaper rail 4 is arranged parallel to the rail 1, pivoting at one end upon a stud 5 secured thereto the opposite end being provided with a recess or the like 6 adapted to engage and to be normally supported by one of the trunnions 2 on the corresponding end of the rail 1. The auxiliary rail 4 is adapted to operate and to be operated separately or independently of the main rail, and for this purpose it has pivotally mounted thereon two arms or levers 8, 9, which may be adjustabl side of the rail 4 when an effort is made to move them in an opposite direction. The arms or levers 8, 9 are also adapted to be moved in relative opposite directions, the arm or leg 8 is of greater length than the arm 9 and normally occupies an inclined position. In some mules the gravity lever or leg 8 may be made to pivot or swing on a stud carried by a bracket secured to the main shaper rail and has one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm being also provided with an adjustable stud forming an extension thereof, but in place of the said leg 8 supporting the raised rail 4, resting on the base or floor as clearly shown at Fig. 1, the stud onthe short arm of the leg is adapted to engage the underside of said rail to support the same, the weight thereof resting on the tion with the above-mentioned auxiliary shaper rail, is provided suitable knockingofl' mechanism comprising a spring biased movable rod or bar 17 suitably supported by guide brackets 18 and by a lever 19; the

rodorbar has formed thereon a series of inchned planes or teeth 20 at one end and at the opposite end it is provided with a slot 21 adapted to be engaged by a stud 22 on the lever 19. The teeth 20 are adapted to be engaged by pawls 23, 24, the ratchet 23 pivots at 25011 a'lever 26 pivoting at 27 on a bracket 28 integral with a base 29; the catch 24 pivots at 30 on an extension 3170f one of the brackets 18.

A spring 32 is connected at one end to a projection or bolt 330a the rack 17 and at the opposite end it is secured to an adjustable screw 34 mounted on a fixed bracket 35; a further spring 36 around the boss 37 of lever 19 is secured at one end to the collar 39 of the stud 89 the other end being fastened to the said lever 19.

The lever 26 is normally positioned at a suitable angle and a projection or the like 40 thereon rests against an adjustable stop 41 carried by a bracket 42 on the base 29. An adjustable screw 43 mounted on the loose end of the said lever is adapted to be engaged at each draft of yarn or on the outward traverse of the mule carriage, by an arm or bracket 44 secured to the back of the square 45.. A further adjustable stop 46 "erably of the lever 26 following the final operation of said bar, or when the desired number of drafts of yarn for forming the bunch or short .taper of yarn has been wound on the bobbin or cop, to prevent it being again engaged by the bracket 44 on the next outward traverse of the carriage.

Upon the connecting rod or bar 14 and approximately spaced in accordance with the two pawls 23, 24, are secured brackets or fingers 48, 49, the bracket 48 being prefgreater width thanthe bracket 49, and both are provided with round or bevelled faces adapted at a predetermined time to engage pivoted levers or arms 50, 51, on the said pawls, to move the same into engagement with corresponding studs 53, 54, for the purposeof raising the pawls out of engagement with the rack bar. also made on the said. pawls by means of further studs and a recess thereon or therein, whereby the pawls on their release again drop into engagement with the teeth of the said bar. is the normal pulley or runner on the corresponding faller leg mechanism adapted to engage one or both rails 1, 4, on its traverse; it is'when traversing the rail 4 after it has been raised and set at a relative {different angle to that of the main rail 1,

that the desired bunch or short chase in the yarn at the base of the bobbin or cop is produced, for the purposes before described.

Spaced perforations 57 are formed in the bar 17. Each perforation or hole counting from the right of the bracket18 represents one draft of yarn and one operation of the pawl 23 moving said bar a distance of one tooth, and is adapted to receive a detachable projecting pin or cotter 59 the amount of movement of the bar 17 according to the number of drafts of yarn to form the desired bunch .or short chase aforesaid, may be regulated or adjusted by placing the pin 59 'in the hole nearest the said bracket 18.

When the rack bar 17 is movedforward by pawl 23 on'lever 26a distance of one tooth representing one draft of yarn, knock-off lever 19 will be drawn forward to operate lever 8 owing to stud 22 being at the end of slot 21. For each additional draft of yarn, or for example, for forming a bunch of three drafts of yarn, the bar 17 may be set a corresponding distance back from saidstud22 as shown at Fig. 3) and the pin again placed in the hole 57 nearest the bracket 18 so that when the bar 17 is released following the operation of lever 8 and is drawn back,

the aforesaid pin or cotter engages the bracket 18 whichserves as a stop preventing its further withdrawaland ensures that the cycle of operations or the predetermined drafts of yarn wound on the bobbin orcop,

be repeated in the next set.

set of bobbins the next setting of the Provision is In the functioning of this'inventio'n the.

spinning and winding of the yarn upon a set of bobbins'leaves the rack bar 17 at the end of its traverse where it is held following the lowering of the rail 4 for normal spinning by the pawls 23, 24, lever 26, and stop 46 as clearly shown at Fig.6 of the drawin s, and with the fingers or brackets 48, 49 inthe positions shown in Fig. 3. p

to spin and wind the yarn upon a fr rther shoes first causes the said fingers 48 and 49 to engage the levers 50 and 51 moving them'into l/Vhen it is desired engagement with the pins 53, 54 on the pawls.

23, 24, to lift the said pawls out of engagement with the teeth 20 and release the bar 17 which is returned to its normal position by the spring 32'; the continued setting of the shaper shoes brings the face 16 of the bracket 15 on the connecting rod 14 into engagement with the lever 9 on the rail 4, which is prevented from being moved on its pivot in this direction by'the projection 13, raises the said rail at 'the same time the main rail 1 is being raised by'theshoe's 3, the angle of the face 16, however, being greater than the faces of the said shoes imparts an increased and quicker movement to the said rail 4 and at the same time lifts the lever or leg 8 from its normal inclined position untilit is adapted to swing on its pivot and assume by gravity a vertical position; when this occurs the lever 9 passes the peak of the incline 16 and in 7 moving out of engagement therewith descends a second incline on the brackets 15, lowering the leg 8 into engagement with the floor to support the rail 4 in the desired position above and at a different angle to the rail 1, as is clearly shown at Figs. 1 and 2 of.

en place the setting aforesaid ceases, and the Y the drawings. When this operationhas takspinning of the yarn forming the bunch or short chase commences.

In the formation of the aforesaid short;

chase 58 (see Fig. 7) the screw 43 on the lever 26 is engaged byth'e bracket 44, each draft,

moving said lever against the spring 56 into.

the position shown in full lines at Fig. 6,

and by means of the pawl 23, the rack bar 17 the distance of one tooth, where it istemporarily held by the pawl 24 the pawl 23 slipping a tooth on the return of the lever 26 by the said spring to its normal position against thestop 41. Should it be desired'to-- form the said chase ofthree drafts of yarn the pawl 23 is in engagement with the fourth tooth'in the rack bar and on its return following thefirst draft of yarn it engages the third tooth in said bar, and so on; the third I draft and movement of the bar having brought the outer end of the slot 21'into engagement with the stud 22 on the lever 19,

onthe fourth draft taking place the carriag'e in operating the'lever 26, pawl 23 and bar 17 as aforesaid, causes the said lever to operate the lever 19 for the latter to engage and move the leg 8 out of the perpendicular for the purpose of rendering the rail i inoperative by the following or the lowering the same to the level of or slightly below the main vshaper rail 1, to recommence normal spinning for the purpose before described. During the operation ofthe lever and its return by the springs 36, the stop 46 onthebar 17 has been also moved into tl e position shown clearly at Fig. 6, and during the normal subsequent spinning and winding of the yarn on the bobbin or cop in the well known manner, prevents any further operation of the lever 26 and pawl 23 by the can riage. On comme sing a fu ther set of bob- .bins, the bar 17 is again released and the auxiliary rail 1 raised into position by the resetting of the shaper mechanism in the manner before described.

Following the lowering of .the rail 4 and during'the normal spinning and winding opera'iions, the shaper shoes are returned lowering the shaper rails in the well known man ner; no opposition is offered to the simultaneous return of the bracket l5and thefin ers 48, 49 on the rod 14, as the levers 9, and 51 are free to move on their pivots in the same direction, and the leg 8 to flatten out. The positioning of the said bracket and fingers on the said rod relative to the lever 9 and pawls 23, 24:, is such as to ensure the carry ing out of their functions at predetermined times for producing the desired effect; the same applies to the positioning on the bar 17 ofthe stop or screw 46 relative to the first tooth in said bar and the lever 26, for the purposes before described. The greater Width of the finger 48 is adapted to ensure the return of the rack ,bar on its release before the pawl 23 is allowed to reengage therewith.

we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shaper mechanism for spinning mules, comprising a main shaper rail, an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to saidmain shaper rail, means forraising said auxiliary shaper rail above said mainshaper rail, means for maintaining the auxiliary Elia-per rail in its raised position, a raclebar, means on said rack bar for lowering the auxiliary shaper rail, means operatively associated with said rails and'saidracl: bar adapted initially to wind on the bobbins or lcops a predetermined bunch of yarn of relatively short chasejat the bottom thereofand thereafter a longer or normalfchasewherebv to provide a deinarkation between the short chase and the normal chase.

,2.'In combination with a spinning mule carriage, a shaper mechanism having shape!- shoes, a rod CQnDBGting said shoes, a main shaperrailmovableon said shoes, an auxiliary s'haper rail movably connected to said main rail, a rack bar,,meanson saidrackbar operatively connected to the auxiliary shaper raii for lowering the same, yieldable means for maintaining saidbar in one position and means operatively associated with the mule carriage for moving said rack bar whereby to provide a demarkation at predetermined points in the yarn.

3. In combination with aspinning mule carriage, a shaper mechanism having shaper shoes, a rod eonnectingsaid shoes, a main shaper rail movable on said shoes, an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to said main rail and arranged to be moved at an angle above the same, a rack bar, yieldable means formoving the rackbar 1n one direction, a lever having a pawl arranged to engage in the teeth of said rack bar, and means operatively associatedwith the mule carriage for moving the rack bar in the opposite diarmmged to be moved to an angle different from tnat of the main rail, a rack bar, a pair of spaced pawlsarranged to engage said rack bar, means connected to one of said pawls for moving the same out of engagementwith said racl; bar and means on said connecting rod for moving both of said pawls out of engagement with said rack bar, whereby to provide a demarkation between the initial chase and the normal chase on the bobbin.

'5. In combination with a spinning mule carriage, a shaper mechanism havlng shaper shoes, a rod connecting said shoes, a main shaper rail movable on said shoes, an auxiliary shaper rail PIVOGGCltO said main rail and arranged to be moved to an angledifferent from that of the main rail, a rack bar, a pair of spaced pawls arranged to engage said rack bar, means on said rod for raisingsaid pawls out of engagement with said rack bar at predetermined intervals, means for raising said auxiliary shaper rail above the main shaper rail to produce a short chase in the arm at the base of the bobbin, means for lowering the auxiliary shaper rail to substantially the same level as the main shaper rail and producing the normal chase ofthe arm, and means for maintaining said auxiliary shaper rail in its inoperative position.

6. A shaper mechanism for spinningmules comprising a main shaper rail, an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to the main shaper rail, supportlng means movably connected to said auxiliary rail for maintaining the same in a ra sed pos tion, shaper shoes, a rod connectlng sa d shoes, means on said rection a distance of one tooth for eachdraft rod adapted on the resetting ofsaid shoes to operatively engage the said supporting means to lift the auxiliary rail into its active position for the purpose of forming the initial or short chase, a mule carriage adapted to traverse the raised auxiliary rail, means associated With said carriage adapted to be operated thereby in accordance with the number of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch, and means on completion of said bunch adapted to simultaneously move the supporting means, so as to allow saidauxiliary rail to drop to its inactive position, thus causing the mule carriage to next engage the main shaper rail for normal winding, thereby creating a distinct demarkation in the yarn between the said bunch and the normal or longer chase. 1

7. A shaper mechanism for spinning mules comprising a main shaper rail, an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to the main shaper rail, spaced supporting means movably connected to said auxiliary rail, shaper shoes, a rod connecting said shoes, means on said rods adapted on the resetting of said shoes to operatively engage one of said supporting means to lift the auxiliary rail into its active position for the purpose of forming the initial or short chase necessary to bunch v 0 the yarn on the bobbin and allowing the other supporting means to be moved into a position temporarlly supporting said auxillary rail in the said position, a mule carriage adapted to traverse the raised auxiliary rail,

means associated with said carriage adapted to be operated thereby in accordance with the number of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch, and means on completion of said bunch adapted to simultaneously move said supporting means to allow the auxiliary rail to drop to its inactive position, caus ing the mule carriage to next engage the main shaper rail for normal winding.

8. A shaper mechanism for spinning mules comprising a main shaper rail, an auxiliary shaper rail ,movably connected to the main shaper rail, spaced supporting means movably connected to said auxiliary rail, shaper shoes, a rod connecting said. shoes, means on said rod adapted on the resetting of said shoes to operatively engage one of said arms to lift the auxiliary rail into its active position for the purpose offorming the initial or short chase necessary to bunch the yarn on the bobbin and allowing the other arm to move to a position temporarily supporting said auxiliary rail in the said position, a mule carriage adapted to traverse the raised auxiliary rail, means associated with said carriage adapted to be operated thereby in accordance with the number of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch, and means on completion of said bunch adapted to simultaneously move said supporting arms to allow the auxiliary rail to drop to its inactive position, causing the mule carriage to next engage the main shaper rail for normal winding, thereby creating adistinct demarkation in the yarn between the said bunch and the normal or longer chase. v a

9. A shaper mechanism for spinningmules, comprising a main shaper rail, and an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to said main shaper rail; supporting arms movably connected tosaid auxiliary rail; shaper shoes, a rod connecting said shoes, means secured to said rod adapted on the resetting ofsaid shoes, to operatively engage one ofthe said'arms to lift the'auxiliary rail into the active position for the purpose of forming the initial or short chase necessary to bunch yarn on a bobbin and allowing the other arm on said auxiliary rail to gravitate'into a position to temporarily support the auxiliary-rail in the said position; a mule carriage adapted to traverse the raised auxiliary rail; a movable rack associated with means intermittently operated by the mule carriage in accordance with the number of drafts of yarn required to form the operative engagement with a resilient lever adapted on thecompletion of a bunch, to s1- multaneously move oneof said arms and drop 10. A shaper mechanism for spinning.

mules, comprising a main shaper rail, and an auxiliary shaper rail movably' connected to said main shaper rail; arms 'movably connected to said auxiliary rail; shaper shoes, a rod connecting said shoes, means secured to said rod adapted on the'resetting of said shoes to operatively engage one of the said'arms to lift the auxiliaryrail into the active position for forming the initial or short'chase necessary to bunch yarn on a bobbin, and allowing theother of the arms on the auxiliary rail to gravitate into a position'to temporarily support the rail inthe said position; a mule carbunch; means integral with said rack and in to v leo p ill) riage adapted to traverse the said auxiliary rail; a movable rack,'a spring yieldably main-' taming the rackin one position, a slotted extension thereof, a resllient lever in engagement with said extension, a lever and pawl mechanism operatively associated with the mule carriage when traversing the auxiliary rail to interm ttently move said rack in opposltion to said spring in accordance wlth the number of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch, and oncompletion ofsaid bunch'to operate said resilient lever to movethe gravity arm and drop the auxiliary rail to its inactive position, causing. said mule carriage to next engage the mainshaper rail for normal winding, creating a distinctdemarkation between the initialchase and the normal or lorger chase.

11. A. shaper mechanism f pinn g mules comprising a main shaper rail and an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to said main shaper rail; spaced supporting arms movably connected to said auxiliary rail, shaper shoes, a rod connectingsaid shoes, means secured to rod adapted on the resetting of said shoes to operatively engage one of the said arms to lift the auxiliary shaper rail into the active position for the purpose of forming the initial or short chase necessary to bunch yarn on a bobbin, and allowing the other of. said arms to gravitate into a position to temporarily support the rail in the said position; a mule carriage adapted to traverse the said auxiliary rail; a movable rack having a slotted extension, a spring y-ieldably maintaining the rods in oneposition, a: resilient lever in engagement with said extension, a lever and pawl mechanism operativelyassociated with the mule carriage when traversing the auxiliary rail to intermittently move saidr-ack in opposition to said spring in accordance with the number of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch, and meansmovable with the rack adapted on the dropping of theauxiliary rail toengage the lever and pawl mechanism and hold them out of engagement with the mule carriage during normal winding, or until the next resetting of the shaper shoes.

1-2. A shaper mechanism for spinning mules, comprising a main shaper rail, an auxiliary shaper rail movably connected to said main shaper rail, spaced supporting arms movably connected to said auxiliary rail. shaper shoes, a rod connecting said shoes, means secured to said rod adapted on the resetting of said shoes to oper-atively engage one of the said arms to lift the auxiliary shaper rail into the active position for the purpose of forming the initial or short chase necessary to bunch yarn on a bobbin, and allowingv the other said arms to gravitate into a position to temporarily support said rail in the said position; amule carriage adapted to traverse the raised auxiliary rail; a movable rack; a lever catch and pawl mechanismintermittently engagedby said mule carriage to move said rack in'accordancewith the num ber of drafts of yarn required to form a bunch; means secured to said rod connecting adapted to engage meanson the pawl mechanism on the resetting of said shoes to di engage the pawls and release the rack; and ad lmtable means on said rack adapted on the release thereof to engage a fixed part of the device to ensure the cycle of operations being repeated on the next resetting ofthe shaper shoes.

In witness whereof we aflix our signatures;

FRED CUNNINGHAM new. sums JESSOP ssmoR. CLIFFORD THORNES 'TATT'ERSFIELD. 

